Occupancy and non-occupancy detection in the lighting system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a lighting system including a detector, which is configure to obtain an indicator data of a RF signal. The detector compares the indicator data with a baseline indicator data to generate a difference value and determines a rate of change from the indicator data. The detector also determines a data metric based on the rate of change and the difference value and compares the data metric with a transition threshold to detect one of an occupancy condition or a non-occupancy condition in the area. The lighting system also includes a light source, which is controlled in response to the detected one of the occupancy condition or the non-occupancy condition in the area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/950,670 filed Apr. 11, 2018, entitled “OCCUPANCY AND NON-OCCUPANCYDETECTION IN THE LIGHTING SYSTEM” which is a Continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/720,254 filed Sep. 29, 2017, entitled “OCCUPANCYAND NON-OCCUPANCY DETECTION IN THE LIGHTING SYSTEM” now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,986,623, the disclosures of both of which are hereby entirelyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a number of systems and methods have been proposed foroccupancy detection within a particular area utilizing radio frequency(RF) based technologies. Examples of such systems include video sensormonitoring systems, radio frequency identification (RFID) systems,global positioning systems (GPS), and wireless communication systemsamong others. However, many of these systems have several disadvantages.For example, the video sensor monitoring system require a considerableamount of dedicated sensors that are expensive and require a largeamount of memory for storing data. The RFID systems rely on occupantscarrying an RFID tag/card that can be sensed by the RFID system tomonitor the occupants. The GPS system uses orbiting satellites tocommunicate with the terrestrial transceiver to determine a location ofthe occupant in the area. However, such systems are generally lesseffective indoors or in other environments where satellite signals maybe blocked, reducing accuracy of detecting the occupant in the area.

Electrically powered artificial lighting has become ubiquitous in modernsociety. Since the advent of electronic light emitters, such as lightingemitting diodes (LEDs), for general lighting type illuminationapplication, lighting equipment has become increasingly intelligent withincorporation of sensors, programmed controller and networkcommunication capabilities. Automated control, particularly forenterprise installations, may respond to a variety of sensed conditions,such a daylight or ambient light level and occupancy. Commercial gradelighting systems today utilize special purpose sensors and relatedcommunications.

There also have been proposals to detect or count the number ofoccupants in an area based on effects of an RF signal received from atransmitter due to the presence of the occupant(s) in the area. These RFwireless communication systems generally detect an occupant in theregion based on change in signal characteristics of a data packettransmitted over the wireless network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accordancewith the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way oflimitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same orsimilar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of an example of anoccupancy sensing system in accordance with an implementation of a localcontrol of a light source in a lighting system.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a multiple transmitter and a singlereceiver wireless topology in a lighting system.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of a linear wireless topology of multipletransmitters and multiple receivers in a lighting system.

FIG. 2C illustrates an example of a grid wireless topology of multipletransmitters and multiple receivers in a lighting system.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a method for determining an occupancycondition or non-occupancy condition in a lighting system.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a graphical representation of radiosignal strength indicator (RSSI) data over plurality of times.

FIG. 4B, shows an example of a graphical representation of the, RSSIdata, the total amount of variation of the RSSI data and the occupancycondition over plurality of times.

FIG. 5A illustrates a functional block diagram of an example of anoccupancy sensing system in accordance with an implementation of aglobal control of a light source in a lighting system.

FIG. 5B illustrates a functional block diagram of another example of anoccupancy sensing system in accordance with an implementation of aglobal control of a light source in a lighting system.

FIG. 5C illustrates a functional block diagram of another example of anoccupancy sensing system in accordance with another implementation of alighting system.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a wireless topology of a lightingsystem with multiple transmitter and receiver group pairs in a machinelearning (ML) implementation.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example relating toa lighting system of network and devices that provide a variety oflighting capabilities.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of lighting device that operates in andcommunicates via the lighting system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a wall switch type user interface elementthat operates in and communicates via the lighting system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a sensor type element that operates in andcommunicates via the lighting system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a plug load controller type element thatoperates in and communicates via the lighting system of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent that the presentteachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances,well known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry have beendescribed at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoidunnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

Although there have been suggestions to control lighting based on RFwireless detection results, the RF-based detection systems have notthemselves been integrated as part of a lighting system of which thelighting operation are controlled as a function of the detection.

There is also room for improvement in the RF wireless detectionalgorithms for lighting system control. For example, an improvedalgorithm may enable a more rapid and real time response so that anoccupant entering a previously empty area perceives that systeminstantly turns ON the light(s) in the area. As another example, animproved algorithm may offer improved detection accuracy, e.g. to reducefalse positives in detecting an occupant.

The examples described below and shown in the drawings integrate RFwireless based occupancy/non-occupancy detection capabilities in one ormore lighting devices or into lighting devices and/or other elements ofa lighting system. Examples of a detection system address some or all ofthe concerns noted above regarding rapid real time detection of changesin occupancy/non-occupancy status and/or improved detection performance,such as reduction of false positive occupancy detections. Theseadvantages and possibly other advantages may be more readily apparentfrom the detailed description below and illustration of aspects of theexamples in the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a functional block diagram of anexample of an occupancy sensing system 100 configured to function on aradio frequency (RF) wireless communication network in accordance withan implementation of a local control of a light source in a lightingsystem. As illustrated, the occupancy sensing system 100 includes alighting system (system) 102 disposed within a physical space/area 105such as a room, corridor, hallway, or doorway. In one implementation,indoor environment is described, but it should be readily apparent thatthe systems and methods described herein are operable in externalenvironments as well.

The system 102 includes at least one intelligent system node (systemnode) 104. The system node has an intelligence capability to transmitand receive data and process the data. In one example, the system nodeincludes a light source and is configured as a lighting device. Inanother example, the system node includes a user interface component andis configured as a lighting controller. In another example the systemnode includes a switchable power connector and is configured as a plugload controller. In a further example, the system node includes sensordetector and is configured as a lighting related sensor.

In one implementation, the system node 104 includes a wireless radioreceiver (Rx) 110 configured to receive the RF signals, includingsignals from the Tx 108. As shown in FIG. 1, in an alternateimplementation, the Tx 108 is located inside the system node 104 104(e.g. at opposite ends of the system node 104). In another alternateimplementation, as shown in FIG. 1, the system 102 includes anothersystem node 104′ including another Tx 108′ and another Rx 110′ (e.g. atopposite ends of the system node 104′). In another alternateimplementation, the system node 104 includes a light source 106 and isconfigured as lighting device. The lighting device, for example, maytake the form of a lamp, light fixture, or other luminaire thatincorporates the light source, where the light source by itself containsno intelligence or communication capability, such as one or more LEDs orthe like, or a lamp (e.g. “regular light bulbs”) of any suitable type.The light source 106 is configured to illuminate the area 105. In oneexample, the light source 106 is configured to illuminate portions orregions of the area 105. Typically, a lighting system will include oneor more other system nodes, such as a wall switch, a plug loadcontroller, or a sensor.

In one implementation, the system node 102 includesoccupancy/non-occupancy detector (detector) 116. In one implementation,the detector detector 116 is within firmware of a processor configuredto determine one of an occupancy condition or a non-occupancy conditionin the area 105, although other processor implementations may be used.In one implementation, the system node 104 includes a controller 120coupled to the detector 116. In one implementation the controller 120may be the same or an additional processor configured to controloperations of elements in the system node 104 in response todetermination of one of the occupancy condition or the non-occupancycondition in the area 105. For example, in an alternate implementation,when the system node 104 is configured to be a lighting device andincludes a light source 106, the controller 120 controller is configuredto process a signal to control operation of the light source 106. In onealternate implementation, the controller 120 is configured to turn ONthe light source 106 upon an occupancy condition detected by thedetector 116. In one implementation, the controller 120 is configured toturn OFF the light source 106 upon a non-occupancy condition detected bythe detector 116. In another implementation, the controller 120communicates the occupancy condition or non-occupancy condition to thelighting network=via a data packet. The data packet is received by oneor more luminaires in the lighting network, which are configured to turnON or OFF the light source 106 based on the occupancy or thenon-occupancy condition respectively provided in the data packet.Accordingly, the occupancy sensing system 100 communicates theoccupancy/non-occupancy condition with other networks.

In examples discussed in more detail later, system nodes often includeboth a transmitter and a receiver (sometimes referenced together as atransceiver), for various purposes. At times, such a node may use itstransmitter as part of an occupancy sensing operation; and at othertimes such a node may use its receiver as part of an occupancy sensingoperation. Such nodes also typically include a processor, memory andprogramming (executable instructions in the form of software and/orfirmware). Although the processor may be a separate circuity (e.g. amicroprocessor), in many cases, it is feasible to utilize the centralprocessing unit (CPU) and associated memory of a micro-control unit(MCU) integrated together with a transceiver in the form of a system ona chip (SOC). Such an SOC can implement the wireless communicationfunctions as well as the intelligence (e.g. including any detector orcontroller capabilities) of the system node.

Although the system 102 of FIG. 1 illustrates an implementation of asingle Tx 108, the system 102 may include other implementations such asmultiple Tx 108 a-108 n (see e.g. FIGS. 2A to 2C). Also, FIG. 1illustrates the implementation of a single Rx 110, but the system 102may include other implementations such as multiple Rx 110 a-110 n (seee.g. FIGS. 2B to 2C). Further, the implementation of the system 102shown includes a single lighting device 104, however, the system 102 mayinclude multiple lighting devices 104 a-104 n (see e.g. FIG. 7)including one or more Tx 108 and one or more Rx 110.

For discussion of an initial example of operation, assume that thesystem 102 includes just the elements shown in FIG. 1. In one example,the system node 102 includes the capabilities to communicate over twodifferent RF bands, although the concepts discussed herein areapplicable to devices that communicate with luminaires and other systemelements via a single RF band. Hence, in the dual band example, the Tx108/Rx 110 may be configured for sending and receiving various types ofdata signals over one band, and/or for pairing and commissioningmessages over another band. For example, the Tx 108 and Rx 110 areconfigured as a 900 MHz transmitter and receiver for communication of avariety of system or user data, including lighting control data, forexample, commands to turn lights on/off, dim up/down, set scene (e.g., apredetermined light setting), and sensor trip events. Alternatively, theTx 108/Rx 110 may be configured as a 2.4 GHz transmitter and receiverfor Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication of various messages relatedto commissioning and maintenance of a wireless lighting system.

In one implementation, benefits of the system include the ability totake advantage of Tx 108 and the Rx 110 (e.g. RE Tx and RF Rx) alreadyinstalled in a location in the area 105, and because the systempassively monitors signal broadcasts in the area 105 at a plurality oftimes, the wireless occupancy detection functionality does not require(does not rely on) the occupants to carry any device.

At a high level, the wireless communication transmitter Tx 108 transmitsa RF for the plurality of times. The transmission may be specificallyfor the occupancy detection. In some cases, however, where thetransmitter is in another lighting device or other lighting systemelement (e.g. a sensor or a wall switch), the transmissions are regularlighting related communications, such as report status, sendingcommands, reported sensed events, etc. The wireless communicationreceiver Rx 110 receives the transmissions of the RF signal through thearea 105 for each of the plurality of times. Rx 110 generates anindicator data of plurality of characteristics of the RF signal at theplurality of times. Some of the characteristics include but are notlimited to received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data, bit errorrate, packet error rate, phase change etc. or a combination of two ormore thereof The RSSI data represents measurements of signal strength ofthe received RF. The bit error rate is rate of incorrect bits inreceived RF signals versus total number of bits in the transmitted RFsignals. The packet error rate is rate of incorrect packets in receivedRF signals versus total number of packets the transmitted RF signals.Phase change is a change of phase of a received RF signal compared toprevious reception of the RF signal (typically measured between theantennas spaced apart from each other). For the purpose of the presentdescription, we use RSSI data as the characteristics of the RF signalfor processing by the Rx 110 to generate as the indicator data. Rx 110measures the signal strength of the RF signal and generates the RSSIdata based on the signal strength. The signal strength of each of the RFsignal is based whether an occupant exists in a path between the Tx 108and Rx 110 in the area 105. In one implementation the detector obtainsthe generated RSSI data at each of the plurality of times and determinesone of an occupancy condition or a non-occupancy condition in the area105 as described in greater detail herein below.

In one implementation, when each time among the plurality of times is acurrent time, the detector 116 compares RSSI data generated at thecurrent time with the RSSI data generated at a preceding time among theplurality of times to determine a rate of change. In one implementation,the preceding time is a time interval and the RSSI data generated at thepreceding time is an average RSSI data determined over the timeinterval. The preceding time interval occurs before the current time. Inone example, the preceding time interval occurs immediately before thecurrent time. In one implementation, the RSSI data generated at thecurrent time is compared with the average RSSI data based on one or moreparameters. In one example, the parameter is a frequency and adifference value (change) is determined in frequency between thegenerated RSSI data at the current time and the average RSSI data at thepreceding time. In another example, the parameter is a magnitude and adifference value (change) is determined in magnitude between thegenerated RSSI data at the current time and the average RSSI data at thepreceding time.

In one implementation, the lighting system 102 includes a memory 118that stores baseline indicator data at an earlier time. In oneimplementation, the baseline indicator data defines a non-occupancycondition in the area at the earlier time. In one implementation, thedetector compares the RSSI data generated at the current time with thebaseline indicator data to generate a difference value. In oneimplementation, the baseline indicator data is calculated from RSSI datavalues at the earlier time, which is much longer time back before thecurrent time. In one implementation the baseline indicator data is anaverage RSSI data calculated over some number of time intervals. In oneexample, the baseline indicator data is calculated at a night or aprevious day. In one example, the baseline indicator data is calculatedwhen there is no occupant in the area and accordingly defines thenon-occupancy condition in the area. In one implementation, the RSSIdata generated at the current time is compared with the baselineindicator data based on one or more parameters. In one example, theparameter is a frequency and a difference value (change) is determinedin frequency between the generated RSSI data at the current time and thegenerated RSSI data at the earlier time. In another example, theparameter is a magnitude and a difference value (change) is determinedin magnitude between the generated RSSI data at the current time and thegenerated RSSI data at the earlier time.

In one implementation, the detector 116 calculates a variation metricbased on the rate of change and the difference value for each of theplurality of the times of signal reception. In one implementation, thedetector 116 determines a sum of the variance metric based on thevariation metric. In one implementation, the sum of the variance metricis summing of the variation metrics for each of the plurality of timesat which the RSSI data is generated. In one example, the sum of thevariance metric is a sum of the variance at the current time and thevariance at the immediate preceding time multiplied by a decay factor.In another example, the sum of the variance metric is a rolling sum ofvariances within a set window of time. In one implementation, thedetector 116 compares the sum of the variance metric with a risingtransition threshold. The rising transition threshold is a minimum valueof the sum of variance to determine that an occupancy condition existsin the area 105. The rising transition threshold is determined prior togenerating of the RSSI data in real time.

In one implementation, the detector 116 detects an occupancy conditionin the area 105 at the current time when the sum of the variance metricis greater than the rising transition threshold. The detector 116 sendsan occupancy condition signal to the controller 120. In oneimplementation, the controller 120 turns ON the light source 104 uponreceipt of the occupancy condition signal from detector 116.

In one implementation, the detector 116 compares the total sum of thevariance with a falling transition threshold. The falling transitionthreshold is a maximum value of the sum of variance to determine that anon-occupancy condition exists in the area 105. The falling transitionthreshold is determined prior to generating of the RSSI data in realtime. In one implementation, the detector 116 detects a non-occupancycondition in the area 105 at the current time when the total amount ofthe variation is less than the falling transition threshold. Thedetector 116 sends a non-occupancy condition signal to the controller120. In one implementation, the controller 120 turns OFF the lightsource 104 upon receipt of the non-occupancy condition signal fromdetector 116.

When the area 105 was previously unoccupied (the light source 106 wasOFF), the controller 120 responds to an occupancy determination by thedetector 116 to apply power to the light source 106 to turn ON thesource. When the area 105 was previously occupied (the light source 106was ON), the controller 120 responds to a non-occupancy determination bythe detector 116 to withdraw power from the light source 106 to turn OFFthe source as described in greater detail below.

In one implementation, the detector 116 determines that the total amountof the variation at the current time falls between a rising transitionthreshold and a falling transition threshold. The detector 116determines whether a non-occupancy condition or an occupancy conditionexists at previous time (prior to the current time) among the pluralityof times. In one implementation, the detector 116 determines that theoccupancy condition exists at the current time when the occupancycondition existed at the previous time. In one example, the previoustime is a beginning time among the each of the plurality of times andthe non-occupancy condition exists in the beginning time. In oneimplementation, the detector 116 generates an occupancy detection signalupon detection of the occupancy condition. The controller 120 isconfigured to turn ON the light source 106 in response to the occupancydetection signal. In one implementation, the detector 116 determinesthat the non-occupancy condition exists at the current time when thenon-occupancy condition existed at the previous time. In one example,the previous time is a beginning time among the plurality of times andthe non-occupancy condition exists in the beginning time. In oneimplementation, the detector 116 generates a non-occupancy detectionsignal upon detection of the non-occupancy condition. The controller 120is configured to turn OFF the light source 104 in response to thenon-detection detection signal. Accordingly, implementation of theoccupancy sensing system 102 is configured to locally control the lightsource of the lighting system.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 102 includes a single transmitter(Tx) 108 receiver (Rx) 110 pair. The system 102, however, may includeother implementations of the transmitters and the receivers in pairs. Inone implementation the system 102 includes multiple Tx 108 a-108 n/Rx108-108 n pairs. In another implementation, the system 102 includes amultiple Tx 108 a-108 n and a single Rx 110. In another implementation,number of Tx and Rx is independent of the number of lighting devices102. In another implementation, wireless topology of the Tx and Rx isindependent wireless topology of the system of the lighting devices 102.Some examples of the Tx/Rx wireless topology are described herein below.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a wireless topology of a multiTx/single Rx group 230 including four Tx 108 a-108 d and a single Rx 110in the area 105. In this example, the area 105 is a room inside abuilding, home etc. Such a multi-Tx/single RX group 230 is installed inthe room where each of the multiple Tx 108 a-108 d may be able totransmit the RF signals from four different locations of the room to thesingle Rx 110. In this example, the single RX 110 receives RF signalsfrom four corresponding Tx108 a-108 d. In one implementation, the singleRx 110 generates a single RSSI data based on a combination of RF signalstrength of all four of the RF signals transmitted by each of the fourTx 108 a-108 d. The single RSSI data is processed by the detector 116 todetermine one of an occupancy condition or a non-occupancy condition ofthe entire room covered by the four Tx 108 a-108 d. In anotherimplementation, the single Rx 110 generates four individual occupancyconditions based on RF signals from each of the Tx108 a-108 d andreports them separately. In another example, the single Rx 110 generatesone aggregate occupancy condition that is based on a logical OR of theindividual occupancy conditions corresponding to Tx108 a-108 d.

In one implementation, the multi Tx/single Rx group 230 is located inone or more lighting devices 104 in the area 105. In anotherimplementation, each of the multi Tx 108 a to Tx108 d are located in oneof the lighting devices 104 a-104 n (see e.g. FIG. 7) and the Rx 110 islocated in another of the lighting devices 104 a-104 n (see e.g. FIG. 7)that is different from the one of the lighting devices 104 a-104 n (seee.g. FIG. 7). In another implementation, each of the multi Tx 108 a-108d is located in their respective lighting devices 104 a-104 d (see e.g.FIG. 7) and the Rx is located in one of the respective lighting devices104 a-104 d (see e.g. FIG. 7). In a further implementation, each of themulti Tx 108 a-108 d is located in their respective lighting devices 104a-104 d (see e.g. FIG. 7) and the Rx is located in a lighting device 104separate from the lighting devices 104 a-104 d (see e.g. FIG. 7). FIG.2B illustrates an example of a linear wireless topology of a multi Tx/Rxgroup 240 having multiple Tx 108 a-108 n and multiple Rx 110 a-110 n inthe area 105. In this example, the area 105 is a hallway of the indoorenvironment, the outdoor environment or a combination of the indoor orthe outdoor environment. In this example, each of the multiple Tx 108a-108 n linearly transmits the RF signals, as such each of the Rx110a-110 n receives RF signals from two corresponding Tx among the multipleTx108 a-108 n. In one implementation, the each of the Rx 110 a-110 ngenerates a single RSSI data based on a combination of RF signalstrength of two of the RF signals transmitted by each of the twocorresponding Tx among the multiple Tx 108 a-108 n. The single RSSI datais processed by the detector 116 to determine one of an occupancycondition or a non-occupancy condition of the entire hallway linearlyfrom one end of hallway to the other end covered by the multiple Tx 108a-108 n. In another implementation, each of Rx110 a -110 n generates twoindividual occupancy conditions based on RF signals from the two Txamong the Tx108 a-108 n and reports them separately. In another example,each of the Rx110 a-110 n generates one aggregate occupancy conditionthat is based on a logical OR of the individual occupancy conditionscorresponding to the two Tx among the Tx108 a-108 n. In a furtherexample, each of the Rx110 a-110 n generates one aggregate occupancycondition that is based on a logical OR of the individual occupancyconditions corresponding to the two Tx among the Tx108 a-108 n and anaverage value of output of the logical OR.

In one implementation, the multi-Tx/Rx group 240 is implemented linearlyin one lighting device 104. In another implementation, each of a singleTx 108 and Rx 110 pair of the multi Tx/Rx group 240 is located in eachof the respective lighting devices 104 a-104 n (see e.g. FIG. 7). FIG.2C illustrates an example of a grid wireless topology of a multi Tx/Rxgroup 250 having Tx 108 a-108 n and multiple Rx 110 a-110 n in the area105. In this example, the area 105 has a very large space such as ashopping store in an indoor environment. As shown, each of the Rx 110a-110 n is coupled to two or more Tx108 a-108 n along one or morevarious directions to receive RF signals from more than one Tx to covera larger space in the area 105. In this example, each of the Rx 110a-110 n receives RF signals from one of two, three or four Tx among themultiple Tx108 a-108 n. In one implementation, the single Rx 110generates a single RSSI data based on a combination of RF signalstrength from combination of RF signals transmitted by each of the two,three or four Tx among the multiple Tx108 a-108 n. The single RSSI datais processed by the detector 116 to determine one of, an occupancycondition or a non-occupancy condition of the entire area 105 covered bythe multiple Tx108 a-108 n. In another implementation, the single Rx 110generates four individual occupancy conditions based on RF signals fromfour Tx among the Tx108 a-108 n and reports them separately. In anotherexample, each of the Rx110 a-110 n generates one aggregate occupancycondition that is based on a logical OR of the individual occupancyconditions corresponding to the four Tx among the Tx108 a-108 n. In afurther example, each of the Rx110 a-110 n generates one aggregateoccupancy condition that is based on a logical OR of the individualoccupancy conditions corresponding to the four Tx among the Tx108 a-108n and an average value of output of the logical OR.

In one implementation, the multi Tx/single Rx group 250 is located inone or more lighting devices 104 (see e.g. FIG. 7) in the area 105. Inanother implementation, each of the multi Tx 108 a to Tx108 n is locatedin one of the lighting devices 104 a-104 n (see e.g. FIG. 7) and each ofthe multi Rx 110 a to Rx110 n is located in another of the lightingdevices 104 a-104 n that is different from the one of the lightingdevices 104 a-104 n (see e.g. FIG. 7). In another implementation, eachof the multi Tx 108 a-108 n is located in their respective lightingdevices 104 a-104 n and the Rx 110 a-110 n are located in one of therespective lighting devices 104 a-104 n (see e.g. FIG. 7).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method 300 fordetermining an occupancy condition or non-occupancy condition in alighting system. As discussed above, the lighting system (system) isdisposed within a physical space/area such as a room, corridor, hallway,or doorway. In one implementation, indoor environment is described, butit is known to one of ordinary skill that the systems and methodsdescribed herein are operable in external environments as well. Asdiscussed above, for the purpose of the present description, we use theRSSI data as the characteristics of the RF signal, to generate as theindicator data. In one implementation, the method 300 is implemented bythe detector 116 of FIG. 1.

At block 302, RSSI data generated at plurality of times of signalreception is obtained. As discussed above, the RSSI data is generatedbased on measurement of the RF signal strength associated with the RFsignal at each of the plurality of times.

At block 304, when each time among the plurality of times is a currenttime, RSSI data generated at the current time is compared with the RSSIdata generated at a preceding time among the plurality of times todetermine a rate of change. As discussed above, in one implementation,the preceding time is a time interval and the RSSI data generated at thepreceding time is an average RSSI data determined over the timeinterval. The preceding time interval occurs before the current time. Inone example, the preceding time interval occurs immediately before thecurrent time. In one implementation, the RSSI data is compared utilizingone or more parameters. In one example, the parameter is a frequency anda change is determined in frequency between the RSSI data generated atthe current time and the RSSI data generated at the preceding time. Inanother example, the parameter is a magnitude and change is determinedin magnitude between the RSSI generated data at the current time and theRSSI data generated at the preceding time. In one implementation, afirst difference (A_(i)) is calculated between each value of the RSSIdata generated at the current time (RSSI_(i)) among the plurality oftimes and the value of the RSSI data generated at the preceding time,i.e. preceding time interval (RSSI_(i-1)) as shown below.

A _(i)=|RSSI_(i)−RSSI_(i-1)|

At block 306, when each time among the plurality of times is a currenttime, RSSI data generated at the plurality of times is compared with abaseline indicator data at an earlier time to generate a differencevalue. This earlier time occurs before each of the RSSI_(i) among theplurality of times associated with the generated RSSI data. As discussedabove, in one implementation, the baseline indicator data is calculatedfrom RSSI data values at the earlier time, which is much longer timeback before the current time. In one implementation the baselineindicator data is an average RSSI data calculated over some number oftime intervals. In one example, the baseline indicator data iscalculated at a night or a previous day. In one example, the baselineindicator data is calculated when there is no occupant in the area andaccordingly defines the non-occupancy condition in the area. In oneimplementation, the RSSI data is compared utilizing one or moreparameters. In one example, the parameter is a frequency and a change isdetermined in frequency between the RSSI data generated at the pluralityof times and the baseline indicator data generated at the precedingtime. In another example, the parameter is a magnitude and change isdetermined in magnitude between the RSSI data generated at the pluralityof times and the baseline indicator data at the earlier time. In oneimplementation, as shown below, a second difference (B_(i)) iscalculated between each value of the RSSI data generated at theplurality of times and the pre-determined RSSI data value (cal₀) at theearlier time (i.e. Earlier time interval) as shown below:

B _(i)=|RSSI_(i)cal0|

In one implementation, a maximum change value (Δmax) representing amaximum change, i.e. difference value allowed between each one of theRSSI data generated at each of the plurality of times is provided. TheΔmax is determined prior to generating of the RSSI data in real time, Inone implementation, the maximum change value is dependent on factorssuch as rate at which the RSSI data is generated, signal noise, powerintegrity, signal integrity, etc. In one example, the maximum changevalue, Δmax is 5. At block 308, a variation metric (delta_(i)) for thegenerated RSSI data is determined based on the rate of change and thedifference value for each of the plurality of times. In oneimplementation, the variation metric (delta_(i)) is determined based onmaximum value of the rate of change and the difference value subject tomaximum change value (Δmax). Specifically, the rate of change is addedto the difference value to the (Δmax) and a maximum value of the addedrated of change and the difference value is determined as shown below.

delta_(i)=max(A _(i) +B _(i), Δmax)

Referring to FIG. 4A, there is shown a graphical representation 400 ofRSSI data over the plurality of times. The y-axis defines measurementvalue in dB of the RSSI data and the x-axis defines each of theplurality of time in seconds. The baseline indicator data 402 is shownas a solid base line with the RSSI value of −59 dB. As illustrated, thevalue of the RSSI data 404 generated over a period of time varies (forexample between −63 dB to −54 dB) and the variation metric (delta_(i))406 is displayed on the graphical representation 400. As shown, in oneexample, the variation metric (delta_(i)) 406 is a combination ofmagnitude of change 406 a in the RSSI data and the frequency of change406 b in the RSSI data between the RSSI data generated at the currenttime with the average RSSI data at the preceding time and between theRSSI data generated at the current time with the pre-determined baselineindicator data at the earlier time.

Returning back to FIG. 3, at block 310, a sum of variance metric(current sum of the variation metric) (window_(i)) for the RSSI datagenerated at each of the current time over the plurality of times isdetermined. In one implementation, the sum of variance metric(window_(i)) is a sum of the variance at the current time and thevariance at the immediate preceding time multiplied by a decay factor(k). As such, the (window_(i)) is determined by a summation of thesquare value of the delta_(i) with the amount of change in a previoustime (window_(i-1)) multiplied by the decay factor (k) as shown hereinbelow.

window_(i) =k×window _(i-1)+delta_(i) ²

In one implementation, the value of k is less than 1. In one example,the value of k is 0.95. In one implementation, the delta_(i) is squaredto magnify the larger changes in the generated RSSI data and to minimizethe smaller changes in the generated RSSI data since it is the largerchanges in the generated RSSI data that identify an occupant in thearea. In one example, the small changes range between 1 dB to 2 dB fromthe baseline indicator data. In another example, the larger changesrange between 4 dB-7 dB from the baseline indicator data.

In an alternate implementation, the sum of variance metric (window_(i))is a rolling sum of variances within a set window of time and iscalculated based on sum of delta_(i) calculated over last m samples ofgenerated from RSSI data as shown herein below.

${window}_{i} = {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{m}\; {delta}_{j}^{2}}$

In one example, m is the size of the rolling variance over which data isbeing processed. As an example, m is 21 and at 7 samples per second, itrepresents processing 3 seconds of data.

In one implementation, a rising transition threshold (threshold_(R))value is determined prior to generating of the RSSI data in real time.The rising transition threshold is a minimum value of the sum ofvariance to determine that an occupancy condition exists in the area105. The threshold_(R) is a minimum value of the window_(i) to detectthat an occupancy condition exists in the area. In one example, thethreshold_(R) value is determined by multiplying a value of 3 with asquare value of (Δmax) and adding a value of 1 as shown herein below.

threshold_(R)=3×Δmax²+1

As discussed above, in one example, the maximum change value, Δmax is 5,thus the value of the threshold_(R) is 76. In one implementation, afalling transition threshold (threshold_(F)) value is determined priorto generating of the RSSI data in real time. The threshold_(F) is amaximum value of the window_(i) to detect that an occupancy conditiondoes not exist in the area, i.e. a non-occupancy condition exists. Inone example the threshold_(F) value is determined by dividing thethreshold_(R) by the value of 3 as shown herein below.

${threshold}_{F} = \frac{{threshold}_{R}}{3}$

As discussed in the example above, the value of the threshold_(R) is 76,thus the value of the threshold_(F) is 25. At block 312, a decision ismade to determine whether value of the sum of variance metric is greaterthan the rising transition threshold. When at block 312, it isdetermined that the value of the sum of variance metric is greater thanthe rising transition threshold, then at block 314, it is determinedthat the occupancy condition exists in the area. In one implementation,light is turned on in the area upon the determination that the occupancycondition exists. When at block 312, it is determined that the value ofthe sum of variance metric is not greater than the rising transitionthreshold, then at block 316 a decision is made whether the value of thesum of variance metric is less than the falling transition threshold.When at block 316, it is determined that the value of the sum ofvariance metric is less than the falling transition threshold, than atblock 318, it is determined that a non-occupancy condition exists in thearea. In one implementation, light is turned off in the area upon thedetermination that the occupancy condition exists in the area. When atblock 316, it is determined that the value of the sum of variance metricis not less than the falling transition threshold, then at block 320 adecision is made whether at a previous time (prior to the current time)among the plurality of times an occupancy condition exists in the area.When at block 320, it is determined that the occupancy condition existsin the area, then block 314 is repeated. When at block 320, it isdetermined that the occupancy condition does not exists (i.e.non-occupancy condition exists) in the area, then block 318 is repeated.In one example, the previous time is a beginning time among theplurality of times and the non-occupancy condition exists in thebeginning time.

Referring to FIG. 4B, there is shown an example of a graphicalrepresentation 440 of the, RSSI data, the sum of the variance metric(window_(i)) and the occupancy condition over the plurality of times.The y-axis defines measurement value in dB of the RSSI data and thex-axis defines each of the plurality of times in seconds. The baselineindicator RSSI data 442 is shown as an approximately solid base linewith the RSSI value of −65 dB. As illustrated, the value of the RSSIdata 444 (illustrated as dashed lines) generated over a period of timevaries for example between −72 dB to −59 dB. Also, shown is value of thesum of variance metric. i.e. the window_(i), 446 (illustrated as dashedlines) varies between −75 dB to −40 dB. As illustrated in this example,the value of the threshold_(R) 445 is 76 dB and the value ofthreshold_(F) 447 is 25 dB. Further, an occupancy logic signal 448 isillustrated as a solid line, which indicates that the occupancyconditions exists in the area at the time when the value of thewindow_(i), 446 varies between −56 dB and −50 dB. As discussed above theoccupancy condition exists in the area when the sum of variance metrici.e. the window_(i), 446 is either greater than the threshold_(R) value445. Also, as discussed above, the occupancy condition exists in thearea when the sum of variance metric, i.e. the window_(i), 446 is lessthan the threshold_(R) value 445 but the occupancy logic signal 448 isON (i.e. occupancy conditions exists) at a previous time before thecurrent time. Further, as discussed above, the occupancy condition doesnot exists in the area when the sum of variance metric, i.e. thewindow_(i), 446 is less than the threshold_(R) value 445 and theoccupancy logic signal 448 is OFF (i.e. occupancy condition does notexist) at a previous time before the current time. Further, as discussedabove, the occupancy signal 448 is OFF (i.e. occupancy conditions doesnot exist) when sum of the variance metric, i.e. the window_(i), 446 isless the threshold_(F) value 447.

FIG. 5A illustrates a functional block diagram of an example of anoccupancy sensing system 500 configured to function on a radio frequency(RF) wireless communication network in accordance with an implementationof a global control of a light source of a lighting system (system).

As shown, the occupancy system 500 includes a lighting system 502disposed within a physical space/area 505 such as a room, corridor,hallway, or doorway. In one implementation, indoor environment isdescribed, but it is known to one of ordinary skill that the systems andmethods described herein are operable in external environments as well.The system 502 includes a first system node 504. In one implementation,the first system node 504 includes a wireless radio transmitter (Tx) 108configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals. In an alternateimplementation the first node. In an alternate implementation, the firstsystem node 504 includes a light source 506 and is configured as alighting device. The lighting device, for example, may take the form ofa lamp, wall switch, sensor, light fixture, or other luminaire thatincorporates the light source 506, where the light source by itselfcontains no intelligence or communication capability, such as one ormore LEDs or the like, or a lamp (e.g. “regular light bulbs”) of anysuitable type. The light source 506 is configured to illuminate the area505. In one example, the light source 506 is configured to illuminateportions or regions of the area 505.

Although the first system node 504 of FIG. 5A illustrates animplementation to include a single Tx 108, it is known of one ofordinary skill in the art that the first system node 504 may includemultiple Txs 108 a-108 n (not shown). In an alternate implementation,the first system node 504 includes Rx 510. The second node 503 couldalso include Tx 108. The second node 503 could also be lighting device.

In one implementation, the system 502 includes a second system node 512coupled to the first system node 504 via a radio frequency (RF) wirelesscommunication network (network) 530. In one example, the network 530 isa BLE mesh. In one implementation, the first system node 504 includesone of a light source and is being configured as a lighting device, auser interface component and is being configured as a lightingcontroller, a switchable power connector and is being configured as aplug load controller or a sensor detector and is being configured as alighting related sensor. In another implementation, the second systemnode 512 also includes one of a light source and is being configured asa lighting device, a user interface component and is being configured asa lighting controller, a switchable power connector and is beingconfigured as a plug load controller or a sensor detector and is beingconfigured as a lighting related sensor.

In one implementation, the second system node 512′, is different fromthe first system node 504. In one implementation, the second system node512 is a processing server that functions to generate the indictor dataof the RF signals and process the generated indicator data of the RFsignals and control operations of the elements (e.g. light source 506)in the first system node 504. As discussed above, the indicator dataincludes a plurality of characteristics of the RF signal at theplurality of times. Some of the characteristics include but are notlimited to received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data, bit errorrate, packet error rate, phase change etc. Also, as discussed above, forthe purpose of the present example, we use RSSI data as the indicatordata. In one implementation, the second system node 512 is a cloudcomputing system which includes a plurality of processingservers/machines, which work together or independently to process theindicator data of the RF signals and control operations of the elements(e.g. light source 506) in the first system node 504. In oneimplementation, second system node 512 includes a wireless radioreceiver Rx 510 configured to receive RF signals, including signals fromthe Tx 508 in the first system node 504. In an alternate implementation,the second system node 512 also includes a Tx 508.

In one example, the first node 501 and the second node 503 includes thecapabilities to communicate over two different RF bands, although theconcepts discussed herein are applicable to devices that communicatewith luminaires and other system elements via a single RF band. Hence,in the example, the Tx 508/Rx 510 may be configured for sending andreceiving various types of data signals, and/or for pairing andcommissioning messages. For example, the Tx 508/Rx 510 is configured asa 900 MHz transmitter for such an implementation on a variety of datathat are transmitted and received over the 900 MHz band of the wirelessnetwork, includes control data, for example, turn lights on/off, dimup/down, set scene (e.g., a predetermined light setting), and sensortrip events. Alternatively, the TX 508/Rx 510 may be configured as a 2.4GHz transmitter for Bluetooth low energy (BLE) that transmits andreceives various messages related to commissioning and maintenance of awireless lighting system.

In one implementation, benefits of the system include the ability totake advantage of Tx 508 and the Rx 510 (e.g. RE Tx and RF Rx) alreadyinstalled in a location in the area 505, and because the systempassively monitors signal broadcasts in the area 505 at plurality oftimes, it does not require (does not rely on) the occupants to carry anydevice.

Although FIG. 5A illustrates the Rx 510 inside the second system node512, it is known to one of ordinary skill in the art that the one ormore Rx 510 may be positioned inside the first system node 504. In analternate implementation, one or more Tx 508 may be positioned withinthe second system node 512.

At a high level, the wireless communication transmitter Tx 508 transmitsa RF for the plurality of times. The transmission may be specificallyfor the occupancy detection. In some cases, however, where thetransmitter is in another lighting device or other lighting systemelement (e.g. a sensor or a wall switch), the transmissions are regularlighting related communications, such as reporting status, sendingcommands, reporting sensed events, etc. The wireless communicationreceiver Rx 510 receives the transmissions of the RF signal through thearea 505 for each of the plurality of times of reception. At Rx 510,signal strength of the RF signal is measured and radio signal strengthindicator (RSSI) data is generated of the RF signal at each of theplurality of times (reception times). The signal strength of each of theRF signal is based whether an occupant exists in a path between the Tx508 and Rx 510 in the area 505.

In one implementation, the second system node 512 includes anoccupancy/non-occupancy detector (detector) 516. In one implementation,the detector 516 functions similar to the detector 116 of FIG. 1 todetermine one of an occupancy sensing or non-occupancy sensing conditionin the area 505 with the exception that the occupancy sensing or thenon-occupancy sensing condition is determined globally outside the firstsystem node 504. The detector 516 is configured to process the RSSI datagenerated to generate an occupancy condition signal upon an occupancydetection in the area or a non-occupancy signal upon non-occupancydetection in the area at each of the plurality of times.

In one implementation, the second system node 512 also includes thecontroller 520. The controller 520 functions similar to the controller120 of FIG. 1 with the exception that the controller 520 controlsoperation of the light source 506 globally from outside the first systemnode 504. In one implementation, the controller 520 is configured toturn ON the light source 506 in the lighting device 502 upon receipt ofthe occupancy condition signal from the detector 516. In oneimplementation, the controller 520 is configured to turn OFF the lightsource 506 in the lighting device 502 upon receipt of the non-occupancycondition signal from the detector 516. Accordingly, implementation ofthe occupancy sensing system 500 is configured to globally control thelight source of the system 502.

FIG. 5B illustrates a functional block diagram of another example of anoccupancy sensing system 560 configured to function on the RF wirelesscommunication network in accordance with the implementation of a globalcontrol of the light source of the light system (system 502). In oneimplementation, the occupancy sensing system 560 is similar to theoccupancy sensing system 502 except the elements (e.g. light source 506)of the lighting system 502 is controlled remotely from the lightingsystem 502. In one implementation, the controller 520 is located outsidethe lighting system 502 and is coupled to the lighting system 502 via acommunications network 540. In one implementation, the controller 520 isa cloud computing system which includes a plurality of processingservers/machines, which work together or independently to process theoccupancy and non-occupancy signals to control operations of theelements (e.g. light source 506) of the lighting system 502. In oneimplementation, the communications network 540 is a wireless network. Inone implementation, the communications network 540 is a BLE mesh. In oneimplementation, the communications network is a wired network.Accordingly, implementation of the occupancy sensing system 560 isconfigured to globally control the light source of the system 502.

FIG. 5C illustrates a functional block diagram of another example of anoccupancy sensing system 580 configured to function on the RF wirelesscommunication network in accordance with the implementation of the Tx508 placed outside the lighting system 502. In one implementation, allthe elements in the occupancy sensing system 580 such as Tx 508 R 510,detector 516, memory 518 and controller 520 function similar to elementsdescribed with respect to FIG. 5A with the exception that the Tx 508transmits RF signals outside the lighting system 502. The lightingsystem 502 includes the light source 506.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a wireless topology 600 of a lightingsystem 602 with a multi Tx/Rx group pairs in a machine learning (ML)implementation. Specifically In this example, an area 605 includes acombination of a first room 640, a second room 660 and a hallway 680.The first and the second rooms 640 and 660 respectively are separated bya first wall 670. The hallway 680 is separated by the first and thesecond rooms 640 and 660 respectively by a second wall 690. As shown,each of the first and the second rooms 640 and 660 include a lightingdevice 604 and a Tx 108/Rx 110 pair. The hallway 680 includes twolighting devices 404 and their respective pairs of Tx 108 /Rx 110. Inone implementation, one of the occupancy condition and the non-occupancycondition in the area 605 is detected according to the occupancy sensingsystem 560 with the global control of the light source of the lightingsystem as described with respect to FIG. 5B above with the controller520 located outside the lighting system 602 and is coupled to thelighting system 502 via the communications network 540. In oneimplementation, the communications network 540 is a wireless network. Inone implementation, the communications network 540 is a BLE mesh. In oneimplementation, the communications network is a wired network.

In the wireless topology 600 each of the Tx 108 a-Tx108 c of the Tx108/Rx 110 pair in the area 605 transmits RF signals, which is receivedby its corresponding Rx 110 a-Rx110 c in the Tx 108/Rx 110 pair and alsoreceived by other of the Rx 110 a-Rx 110 c of the Tx 108/Rx 110 pairs inthe area 605. Accordingly, each of the Rx110 a-Rx110 c 110 is configuredto detect one of an occupancy condition and a non-occupancy condition inits own region (first room 640 or second room 660 or the hallway 680)based on the multiple RF signals received globally from the multiple Tx108 in the area 605. Thus, for example, a person in the first room 640is detected by the Tx108/RX 110 (in the first room 640), which generatesan occupancy signal. A person in the first room 640 can also trigger aresponse in the second room 660 by the Tx 108/RX 110 in the second room660, but at a lower RSSI signal level. An RSSI signal level thresholdmay be used to reject the false positive in the second room 660. Asimilar threshold approach may be implemented to prevent false positivesat the nodes i.e. Tx108 c/Rx110 c in the hallway 680.

The Rx 110 a of the first room 640 is configured to detect one of aninaccurate occupancy or inaccurate non-occupancy condition in the firstroom 640 since it receives RF signals not only from its own Tx 108 a inthe first room 640 but also receives RF signals from the Tx 108 b in thesecond room 660 and receives RF signals from the Tx 108 c in the hallway680. In one implementation, a machine learning (ML) algorithm is appliedto allow the Rx 110 a in the first room 640 to ignore/eliminate the RFsignals received from the Tx 108 b in the second room 660 and the Tx 108c from the hallway 680 and/or multipath returns of signals generated bythe Tx 108 a in the first room 640 but received due to or modified bythe presence of occupants in the second room 660 or in the hallway 680.

In general, a machine learning algorithm, such as a neural network,“learns” how to manipulate various inputs, possibly including previouslygenerated outputs, in order to generate current new outputs. As part ofthis learning process, the algorithm receives feedback on prior outputsand possibly some other inputs. Then, the neural network or the likecalculates weights to be associated with the various inputs (e.g. theprevious outputs, feedback, etc.). The weights are then utilized by theneural network to manipulate the inputs and generate the current outputsintended to improve some aspect of system performance in a desiredmanner. For machine learning, the training data is the discrepancybetween the outputs of a present system and the outputs of a trustedsystem.

In a lighting system with occupancy detection, the training data is thediscrepancy between the outputs of an RF based detection systemoperating in a user/consumer installation and a trusted occupancydetection system such as a standard occupancy sensor (e.g. such as asensor using passive infrared (PIR) of or a camera based system).Machine learning techniques such as artificial neural networks areapplied to reduce the discrepancy. Training can take place ahead of thetime (before product release/commissioning) or in the field as anon-going optimization to reduce false positives in detecting anoccupant.

An example may apply a “supervised learning” approach in which thesystem will be provided a “known answer” from a “trusted detector” andmachine learning is used to optimize the occupancy/non-occupancy detectalgorithm to minimize the difference between the system output and the“known answer.” A trusted detector may be a passive infrared occupancydetector or a camera. The particular machine learning approach can beone of decision tree or artificial neural net.

Learning can take place prior to shipping product or as part ofcommissioning after installation. In either of those cases, the systemnormally will operate in the field without a trusted detector.

Alternatively, a trusted detector can be installed with the system inthe field, in which case, there may be on-going machine learning. For anongoing learning implementation, the data can be routed to a cloud,learning can take place on another system, and then the improvedalgorithm (e.g. in the form of new node parameters in the case of aneural network) can be downloaded to the installed lighting system.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example relating toa system of a wireless network and devices that provide a variety oflighting capabilities, including communications in support of lightingfunctions such as turning lights on/off, dimming, set scene, or sensortrip events. It should be understood that the term “lighting controldevice” means a device that includes a controller (Control/XCR module ormicro-control unit) that executes a lighting application forcommunication over a wireless lighting network communication band, ofcontrol and systems operations information during control networkoperation over the lighting network communication band.

A lighting system 702 may be designed for indoor commercial spaces,although the system may be used in outdoor or residential settings. Asshown, system 702 includes a variety of lighting control devices, suchas a set of lighting devices (a.k.a. luminaires) 104 a-104 n (lightingfixtures), a set of wall switch type user interface component (a.k.a.wall switches) 720 a-720 n, a plug load controller type element (a.k.a.plug load controller) 730 and a sensor type element (a.k.a. sensor) 735.Daylight, ambient light, or audio sensors may embedded in lightingdevices, in this case luminaires 704 a-704 n. RF wireless occupancysensing as described above is implemented in one or more of theluminaires 704 a-704 n to enable occupancy/non-occupancy based controlof the light sources. One or more luminaires may exist in a wirelessnetwork 750, for example, a sub-GHz or Bluetooth (e.g. 2.4 GHz) networkdefined by an RF channel and a luminaire identifier.

The wireless network 750 may use any available standard technology, suchas WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc. An example of a lighting system using awireless network, such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE), is disclosed inpatent application publication US 20160248506 A1 entitled “System andMethod for Communication with a Mobile Device Via a Positioning SystemIncluding RF Communication Devices and Modulated Beacon Light Sources,”the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.Alternatively, the wireless network may use a proprietary protocoland/or operate in an available unregulated frequency band, such as theprotocol implemented in nLight® Air products, which transport lightingcontrol messages on the 900 MHz band (an example of which is disclosedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/214,962, filed Jul. 20, 2016,entitled “Protocol for Lighting Control Via a Wireless Network,” theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference). Thesystem may support a number of different lighting control protocols, forexample, for installations in which consumer selected luminaires ofdifferent types are configured for a number different lighting controlprotocols.

The system 702 also includes a gateway 752, which engages incommunication between the lighting system 702 and a server 705 through anetwork such as wide area network (WAN) 755. Although FIG. 7 depictsserver 705 as located off premises and accessible via the WAN 755, anyone of the luminaires 704 a-704 n, for example are configured tocommunicate one of a occupancy detection or a non-occupancy detection inan area to devices such as the server 705 or even a laptop 706 locatedoff premises.

The lighting control 702 can be deployed in standalone or integratedenvironments. System 702 can be an integrated deployment, or adeployment of standalone groups with no gateway 752. One or more groupsof lighting system 702 may operate independently of one another with nobackhaul connections to other networks.

Lighting system 702 can leverage existing sensor and fixture controlcapabilities of Acuity Brands Lighting's commercially available nLight®wired product through firmware reuse. In general, Acuity BrandsLighting's nLight® wired product provides the lighting controlapplications. However, the illustrated lighting system 704 includes acommunications backbone and includes model−transport, network, mediaaccess control (MAC)/physical layer (PHY) functions.

Lighting control 702 may comprise a mix and match of various indoorsystems, wired lighting systems (nLight® wired), emergency, and outdoor(dark to light) products that are networked together to form acollaborative and unified lighting solution. Additional control devicesand lighting fixtures, gateway(s) 750 for backhaul connection, time synccontrol, data collection and management capabilities, and interoperationwith the Acuity Brands Lighting's commercially available SensorViewproduct may also be provided.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a lighting device (in this example, aluminaire) 804 that operates in and communicates via the lighting system702 of FIG. 7. Luminaire 804 is an integrated light fixture thatgenerally includes a power supply 805 driven by a power source 800.Power supply 805 receives power from the power source 800, such as an ACmains, battery, solar panel, or any other AC or DC source. Power supply805 may include a magnetic transformer, electronic transformer,switching converter, rectifier, or any other similar type of circuit toconvert an input power signal into a power signal suitable for luminaire804.

Luminaire 804 furthers include an intelligent LED driver circuit 806,control/XCVR module 815, and a light emitting diode (LED) light source820. Intelligent LED driver circuit 806 is coupled to LED light source820 and drives that LED light source 820 by regulating the power to LEDlight source 820 by providing a constant quantity or power to LED lightsource 320 as its electrical properties change with temperature, forexample. The intelligent LED driver circuit 806 includes a drivercircuit that provides power to LED light source 820 and a pilot LED 817.The pilot LED 817 may be included as part of the control/XCVR module315. Intelligent LED driver circuit 806 may be a constant-voltagedriver, constant-current driver, or AC LED driver type circuit thatprovides dimming through a pulse width modulation circuit and may havemany channels for separate control of different LEDs or LED arrays. Anexample of a commercially available intelligent LED driver circuit 806is manufactured by EldoLED

LED driver circuit 806 can further include an AC or DC current source orvoltage source, a regulator, an amplifier (such as a linear amplifier orswitching amplifier), a buck, boost, or buck/boost converter, or anyother similar type of circuit or component. LED driver circuit 806outputs a variable voltage or current to the LED light source 820 thatmay include a DC offset, such that its average value is nonzero, and/oran AC voltage.

Control/XCR module 815 includes power distribution circuitry 825 and amicro-control unit (MCU) 830. As shown, MCU 830 is coupled to LED drivercircuit 806 and controls the light source operation of the LED lightsource 820. MCU 830 includes a memory 322 (volatile and non-volatile)and a central processing unit (CPU) 823. The memory 822 includes alighting application 827 (which can be firmware) for both occupancydetection and lighting control operations. The power distributioncircuitry 825 distributes power and ground voltages to the MCU 830,wireless transmitter 808 and wireless receiver 810, to provide reliableoperation of the various circuitry on the sensor/control module 815chip.

Luminaire 804 also includes a wireless radio communication interfacesystem configured for two way wireless communication on at least oneband. Optionally, the wireless radio communication interface system maybe a dual-band system. It should be understood that “dual-band” meanscommunications over two separate RF bands. The communication over thetwo separate RF bands can occur simultaneously (concurrently); however,it should be understood that the communication over the two separate RFbands may not actually occur simultaneously.

In our example, luminaire 804 has a radio set that includes radiotransmitter 808 as well as a radio receiver 810, together forming aradio transceiver. The wireless transmitter 808 transmits RF signals onthe lighting network. This wireless transmitter 808 wirelesscommunication of control and systems operations information, duringluminaire operation and during transmission over the first wirelesscommunication band. The wireless receiver carries out receiving of theRF signals from other system elements on the network and generating RSSIdata based on signal strengths of the received RF signals. If provided(optional) another transceiver (Tx and Rx) may be provided, for example,for point-to-point communication, over a second different wirelesscommunication bands, e.g. for communication of information other thanthe control and systems operations information, concurrently with atleast some communications over the first wireless communication band.Optionally, the luminaire 804 may have a radio set forming a secondtransceiver (shown in dotted lines, transmitter and receiver notseparately shown).

The included transceiver (solid lines), for example, may be a sub GHztransceiver or a Bluetooth transceiver configured to operate in astandard GHz band. A dual-band implementation might include twotransceivers for different bands, e.g. for a sub GHz band and a GHz bandfor Bluetooth or the like. Additional transceivers may be provided. Theparticular bands/transceivers are described here by way of non-limitingexample, only.

If two bands are supported, the two bands may be for differentapplications, e.g. lighting system operational communications and systemelement maintenance/commissioning. Alternatively, the two bands maysupport traffic segregation, e.g. one band may be allocated tocommunications of the entity owning/operating the system at the premiseswhereas the other band may be allocated to communications of a differententity such as the system manufacturer or a maintenance service bureau.

The MCU 830 may be a system on a chip. Alternatively, a system on a chipmay include the transmitter 808 and receiver 810 as well as thecircuitry of the MCU 830.

As shown, the MCU 830 includes programming in the memory 822. A portionof the programming configures the CPU (processor) 823 to detect one ofan occupancy or non-occupancy condition in an area in the lightingnetwork, including the communications over one or more wirelesscommunication. The programming in the memory 822 includes a real-timeoperating system (RTOS) and further includes a lighting application 827which is firmware/software that engages in communications withcontrolling of the light source based on one of the occupancy ornon-occupancy condition detected by the CPU 823. The lightingapplication 827 programming in the memory 822 carries out lightingcontrol operations over the lighting network 750 of FIG. 7. Theprogramming for the detection of an occupancy or non-occupancy conditionin the area may be implemented as part of the RTOS, as part of thelighting application 827, as a standalone application program, or asother instructions in the memory.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a wall type user interface element 915 thatoperates in and communicates via the lighting system 702 of FIG. 7. Walltype user interface (UI) element (UI element) is an integrated wallswitch that generally includes a power supply 905 driven by a powersource 900. Power supply 905 receives power from the power source 900,such as an AC mains, battery, solar panel, or any other AC or DC source.Power supply 905 may include a magnetic transformer, electronictransformer, switching converter, rectifier, or any other similar typeof circuit to convert an input power signal into a power signal suitablefor the UI element 915.

UI element 915 furthers includes an intelligent LED driver circuit 910,coupled to LED (s) 920 and drives that LED light source (LED) 920 byregulating the power to LED 820 by providing a constant quantity orpower to LED 920 as its electrical properties change with temperature,for example. The intelligent LED driver circuit 910 includes a drivercircuit that provides power to LED 920 and a pilot LED 917. IntelligentLED driver circuit 910 may be a constant-voltage driver,constant-current driver, or AC LED driver type circuit that providesdimming through a pulse width modulation circuit and may have manychannels for separate control of different LEDs or LED arrays. Anexample of a commercially available intelligent LED driver circuit 910is manufactured by EldoLED.

LED driver circuit 910 can further include an AC or DC current source orvoltage source, a regulator, an amplifier (such as a linear amplifier orswitching amplifier), a buck, boost, or buck/boost converter, or anyother similar type of circuit or component. LED driver circuit 910outputs a variable voltage or current to the LED light source 920 thatmay include a DC offset, such that its average value is nonzero, and/oran AC voltage.

The UI element 915 includes power distribution circuitry 925 and amicro-control unit (MCU) 930. As shown, MCU 930 is coupled to LED drivercircuit 910 and controls the light source operation of the LED 920. MCU930 includes a memory 922 (volatile and non-volatile) and a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 923. The memory 922 includes a lightingapplication 927 (which can be firmware) for both occupancy detection andlighting control operations. The power distribution circuitry 925distributes power and ground voltages to the MCU 930, wirelesstransmitter 908 and wireless receiver 910, to provide reliable operationof the various circuitry on the UI element 915 chip.

The UI element 915 also includes a wireless radio communicationinterface system configured for two way wireless communication on atleast one band. Optionally, the wireless radio communication interfacesystem may be a dual-band system. It should be understood that“dual-band” means communications over two separate RF bands. Thecommunication over the two separate RF bands can occur simultaneously(concurrently); however, it should be understood that the communicationover the two separate RF bands may not actually occur simultaneously.

In our example, the UI element 915 has a radio set that includes radiotransmitter 908 as well as a radio receiver 910 together forming a radiotransceiver. The wireless transmitter 908 transmits RF signals on thelighting network. This wireless transmitter 908 wireless communicationof control and systems operations information, during luminaireoperation and during transmission over the first wireless communicationband. The wireless receiver carries out receiving of the RF signals fromother system elements on the network and generating RSSI data based onsignal strengths of the received RF signals. If provided (optional)another transceiver (Tx and Rx) may be provided, for example, forpoint-to-point communication, over a second different wirelesscommunication bands, e.g. for communication of information other thanthe control and systems operations information, concurrently with atleast some communications over the first wireless communication band.Optionally, the UI element 915 may have a radio set forming a secondtransceiver (shown in dotted lines, transmitter and receiver notseparately shown).

The included transceiver (solid lines), for example, may be a sub GHztransceiver or a Bluetooth transceiver configured to operate in astandard GHz band. A dual-band implementation might include twotransceivers for different bands, e.g. for a sub GHz band and a GHz bandfor Bluetooth or the like. Additional transceivers may be provided. Theparticular bands/transceivers are described here by way of non-limitingexample, only.

If two bands are supported, the two bands may be for differentapplications, e.g. lighting system operational communications and systemelement maintenance/commissioning. Alternatively, the two bands maysupport traffic segregation, e.g. one band may be allocated tocommunications of the entity owning/operating the system at the premiseswhereas the other band may be allocated to communications of a differententity such as the system manufacturer or a maintenance service bureau.

The MCU 930 may be a system on a chip. Alternatively, a system on a chipmay include the transmitter 908 and receiver 910 as well as thecircuitry of the MCU 930.

As shown, the UI element 915 includes a drive/sense circuitry 935, suchas an application firmware, drives the occupancy, audio, and photosensor hardware. The drive/sense circuitry 935 detects state changes(such as change of occupancy, audio or daylight sensor or switch to turnlighting on/off, dim up/down or set scene) via switches 965, such as adimmer switch, set scene switch. Switches 965 can be or include sensors,such as infrared sensors for occupancy or motion detection, anin-fixture daylight sensor, an audio sensor, a temperature sensor, orother environmental sensor. Switches 965 may be based on Acuity BrandsLighting's commercially available xPoint® Wireless ES7 product.

Also, as shown, the MCU 930 includes programming in the memory 922. Aportion of the programming configures the CPU (processor) 923 to detectone of an occupancy or non-occupancy condition in an area in thelighting network, including the communications over one or more wirelesscommunication bands. The programming in the memory 922 includes areal-time operating system (RTOS) and further includes a lightingapplication 927 which is firmware/software that engages incommunications with controlling of the light source based on one of theoccupancy or non-occupancy condition detected by the CPU 923. As shown,a drive/sense circuitry detects a state change event. The lightingapplication 927 programming in the memory 922 carries out lightingcontrol operations over the lighting system 702 of FIG. 7. Theprogramming for the detection of an occupancy or non-occupancy conditionin the area may be implemented as part of the RTOS, as part of thelighting application 927, as a standalone application program, or asother instructions in the memory.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a sensor type element, 1015 that operatesin and communicates via the lighting system 702 of FIG. 7. Sensor typeelement is an integrated sensor detector that generally includes a powersupply 1005 driven by a power source 1000. Power supply 805 receivespower from the power source 1000, such as an AC mains, battery, solarpanel, or any other AC or DC source. Power supply 1005 may include amagnetic transformer, electronic transformer, switching converter,rectifier, or any other similar type of circuit to convert an inputpower signal into a power signal suitable for the sensor type element1015.

The sensor type element 1015 includes power distribution circuitry 1025and a micro-control unit (MCU) 1030. As shown, MCU 1030 includes amemory 1022 (volatile and non-volatile) and a central processing unit(CPU) 1023. The memory 1022 includes a lighting application 1027 (whichcan be firmware) for both occupancy detection and lighting controloperations. The power distribution circuitry 1925 distributes power andground voltages to the MCU 1030, wireless transmitter 1008 and wirelessreceiver 1010, to provide reliable operation of the various circuitry onthe sensor type element 1015 chip.

The sensor type element 1015 also includes a wireless radiocommunication interface system configured for two way wirelesscommunication on at least one band. Optionally, the wireless radiocommunication interface system may be a dual-band system. It should beunderstood that “dual-band” means communications over two separate RFbands. The communication over the two separate RF bands can occursimultaneously (concurrently); however, it should be understood that thecommunication over the two separate RF bands may not actually occursimultaneously.

In our example, the sensor type element 1015 has a radio transmitter1008 as well as radio receiver 1010 together forming a radiotransceiver. The wireless transmitter 1008 transmits RF signals on thelighting network. This wireless transmitter 1008 wireless communicationof control and systems operations information, during luminaireoperation and during transmission over the first wireless communicationband. The wireless receiver carries out receiving of the RF signals fromother system elements on the network and generating RSSI data based onsignal strengths of the received RF signals. If provided (optional)another transceiver (Tx and Rx) may be provided, for example, forpoint-to-point communication, over a second different wirelesscommunication bands, e.g. for communication of information other thanthe control and systems operations information, concurrently with atleast some communications over the first wireless communication band.Optionally, the luminaire sensor type element 1015 may have a radio setforming a second transceiver (shown in dotted lines, transmitter andreceiver not separately shown).

The included transceiver (solid lines), for example, may be a sub GHztransceiver or a Bluetooth transceiver configured to operate in astandard GHz band. A dual-band implementation might include twotransceivers for different bands, e.g. for a sub GHz band and a GHz bandfor Bluetooth or the like. Additional transceivers may be provided. Theparticular bands/transceivers are described here by way of non-limitingexample, only.

If two bands are supported, the two bands may be for differentapplications, e.g. lighting system operational communications and systemelement maintenance/commissioning. Alternatively, the two bands maysupport traffic segregation, e.g. one band may be allocated tocommunications of the entity owning/operating the system at the premiseswhereas the other band may be allocated to communications of a differententity such as the system manufacturer or a maintenance service bureau.

The MCU 1030 may be a system on a chip. Alternatively, a system on achip may include the transmitter 1008 and the receiver 1010 as well asthe circuitry of the MCU 830.

As shown, the sensor type element 1015 includes a drive/sense circuitry1035, such as an application firmware, drives the occupancy, daylight,audio, and photo sensor hardware. The drive/sense circuitry 1035 detectsstate changes (such as change of occupancy, audio or daylight) viasensor detector(s) 1065, such as occupancy, audio, daylight, temperatureor other environment related sensors. Sensors 1065 may be based onAcuity Brands Lighting's commercially available xPoint® Wireless ES7product.

Also as shown, the MCU 1030 includes programming in the memory 1022. Aportion of the programming configures the CPU (processor) 1023 to detectone of an occupancy or non-occupancy condition in an area in thelighting network, including the communications over one or moredifferent wireless communication bands. The programming in the memory1022 includes a real-time operating system (RTOS) and further includes alighting application 1027 which is firmware/software that engages incommunications with controlling of the light source based on one of theoccupancy or non-occupancy condition detected by the CPU 1023. Thelighting application 1027 programming in the memory 1022 carries outlighting control operations over the lighting system 702 of FIG. 7. Theprogramming for the detection of an occupancy or non-occupancy conditionin the area may be implemented as part of the RTOS, as part of thelighting application 1027, as a standalone application program, or asother instructions in the memory.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a plug load controller type element (plugload element) 1115 that operates in and communicates via the lightingsystem 702 of FIG. 7. In one example, plug load element 1115 is anintegrated switchable power connector that generally includes a powersupply 1105 driven by a power source 1100. Power supply 1105 receivespower from the power source 1100, such as an AC mains, battery, solarpanel, or any other AC or DC source. Power supply 1105 may include amagnetic transformer, electronic transformer, switching converter,rectifier, or any other similar type of circuit to convert an inputpower signal into a power signal suitable for the plug load element1115.

Plug load element 1115 includes an intelligent LED driver circuit 1106,coupled to LED (s) 1120 and drives that LED light source (LED) byregulating the power to LED 1120 by providing a constant quantity orpower to LED 1120 as its electrical properties change with temperature,for example. The intelligent LED driver circuit 1106 includes a drivercircuit that provides power to LED 1120 and a pilot LED 1117.Intelligent LED driver circuit 1106 may be a constant-voltage driver,constant-current driver, or AC LED driver type circuit that providesdimming through a pulse width modulation circuit and may have manychannels for separate control of different LEDs or LED arrays. Anexample of a commercially available intelligent LED driver circuit 1106is manufactured by EldoLED.

LED driver circuit 1106 can further include an AC or DC current sourceor voltage source, a regulator, an amplifier (such as a linear amplifieror switching amplifier), a buck, boost, or buck/boost converter, or anyother similar type of circuit or component. LED driver circuit 1106outputs a variable voltage or current to the LED light source 1120 thatmay include a DC offset, such that its average value is nonzero, and/oran AC voltage.

The plug load element 1115 includes power distribution circuitry 1125and a micro-control unit (MCU) 1130. As shown, MCU 1130 is coupled toLED driver circuit 1106 and controls the light source operation of theLED 1120. MCU 1130 includes a memory 1122 (volatile and non-volatile)and a central processing unit (CPU) 1123. The memory 1122 includes alighting application 1127 (which can be firmware) for both occupancydetection and lighting control operations. The power distributioncircuitry 1125 distributes power and ground voltages to the MCU 1130,wireless transmitter 1108 and wireless receiver 1106, to providereliable operation of the various circuitry on the plug load control1115 chip.

The plug load element 1115 also includes a wireless radio communicationinterface system configured for two way wireless communication on atleast one band. Optionally, the wireless radio communication interfacesystem may be a dual-band system. It should be understood that“dual-band” means communications over two separate RF bands. Thecommunication over the two separate RF bands can occur simultaneously(concurrently); however, it should be understood that the communicationover the two separate RF bands may not actually occur simultaneously.

In our example, the plug load element 1115 has a radio set that includesradio transmitter 1108 as well as a radio receiver 1110 forming a radiotransceiver. The wireless transmitter 1108 transmits RF signals on thelighting network. This wireless transmitter 1108 wireless communicationof control and systems operations information, during luminaireoperation and during transmission over the first wireless communicationband. The wireless receiver carries out receiving of the RF signals fromother system elements on the network and generating RSSI data based onsignal strengths of the received RF signals. If provided (optional)another transceiver (Tx and Rx) may be provided, for example, forpoint-to-point communication, over a second different wirelesscommunication bands, e.g. for communication of information other thanthe control and systems operations information, concurrently with atleast some communications over the first wireless communication band.Optionally, the plug load element 1115 may have a radio set forming asecond transceiver (shown in dotted lines, transmitter and receiver notseparately shown).

The included transceiver (solid lines), for example, may be a sub GHztransceiver or a Bluetooth transceiver configured to operate in astandard GHz band. A dual-band implementation might include twotransceivers for different bands, e.g. for a sub GHz band and a GHz bandfor Bluetooth or the like. Additional transceivers may be provided. Theparticular bands/transceivers are described here by way of non-limitingexample, only.

If two bands are supported, the two bands may be for differentapplications, e.g. lighting system operational communications and systemelement maintenance/commissioning. Alternatively, the two bands maysupport traffic segregation, e.g. one band may be allocated tocommunications of the entity owning/operating the system at the premiseswhereas the other band may be allocated to communications of a differententity such as the system manufacturer or a maintenance service bureau.

The MCU 1130 may be a system on a chip. Alternatively, a system on achip may include the transmitter 1108 and the receiver 1110 as well asthe circuitry of the MCU 1130.

Plug load element 1115 plugs into existing AC wall outlets, for example,and allows existing wired lighting devices, such as table lamps or floorlamps that plug into a wall outlet, to operate in the lighting system.The plug load element 1115 instantiates the table lamp or floor lamp byallowing for commissioning and maintenance operations and processeswireless lighting controls in order to the allow the lighting device tooperate in the lighting system. Plug load element 1115 further comprisesan AC power relay 1160 which relays incoming AC power from power source1100 to other devices that may plug into the receptacle of plug loadelement 1115 thus providing an AC power outlet 1170.

Also, as shown, the MCU 1130 includes programming in the memory 1122. Aportion of the programming configures the CPU (processor) 1123 to detectone of an occupancy or non-occupancy condition in an area in thelighting network, including the communications over one or more wirelesscommunication bands. The programming in the memory 1122 includes areal-time operating system (RTOS) and further includes a lightingapplication 1127 which is firmware/software that engages incommunications with controlling of the light source based on one of theoccupancy or non-occupancy condition detected by the CPU 1123. As shown,a drive/sense circuitry detects a state change event. The lightingapplication 1127 programming in the memory 1122 carries out lightingcontrol operations over the lighting system 702 of FIG. 7. Theprogramming for the detection of an occupancy or non-occupancy conditionin the area may be implemented as part of the RTOS, as part of thelighting application 1127, as a standalone application program, or asother instructions in the memory.

Aspects of methods of detecting occupancy and non-occupancy condition ina lighting system as described above may be embodied in programming,e.g. in the form of software, firmware, or microcode executable by aprocessor of any one or more of the lighting system nodes, or by aprocessor of a portable handheld device, a user computer system, aserver computer or other programmable device in communication with oneor more nodes of the lighting system. Program aspects of the technologymay be thought of as “products” or “articles of manufacture” typicallyin the form of executable code and/or associated data that is carried onor embodied in a type of machine readable medium. “Storage” type mediainclude any or all of the tangible memory of the computers, processorsor the like, or associated modules thereof, such as varioussemiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives and the like, which mayprovide non-transitory storage at any time for the software programming.All or portions of the software may at times be communicated through theInternet or various other telecommunication networks. Suchcommunications, for example, may enable loading of the software from onecomputer or processor into another, for example, from a managementserver or host computer into platform such as one of the controllers ofFIGS. 2-10. Thus, another type of media that may bear the softwareelements includes optical, electrical and electromagnetic waves, such asused across physical interfaces between local devices, through wired andoptical landline networks and over various air-links. The physicalelements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, opticallinks or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software.As used herein, unless restricted to one or more of “non-transitory,”“tangible” or “storage” media, terms such as computer or machine“readable medium” refer to any medium that participates in providinginstructions to a processor for execution.

Hence, a machine readable medium may take many forms, including but notlimited to, a tangible or non-transitory storage medium, a carrier wavemedium or physical transmission medium. Non-volatile storage mediainclude, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as any of thestorage hardware in any computer(s), portable user devices or the like,such as may be used. Volatile storage media include dynamic memory, suchas main memory of such a computer or other hardware platform. Tangibletransmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics,including the wires that comprise a bus within a computer system.Carrier-wave transmission media can take the form of electric orelectromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such as thosegenerated during radio frequency (RF) and light-based datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media thereforeinclude for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetictape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any otheroptical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storagemedium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM,any other memory chip or cartridge (the preceding computer-readablemedia being “non-transitory” and “tangible” storage media), a carrierwave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transportingsuch a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can readprogramming code and/or data. Many of these forms of computer readablemedia may be involved in carrying data and/or one or more sequences ofone or more instructions to a processor for execution.

Program instructions may comprise a software or firmware implementationencoded in any desired language. Programming instructions, when embodiedin a machine readable medium accessible to a processor of a computersystem or device, render a computer system or a device into aspecial-purpose machine that is customized to perform the operationsspecified in the program instructions.

Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings,positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are setforth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, areapproximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable rangethat is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with whatis customary in the art to which they pertain. For example, unlessexpressly stated otherwise, a parameter value or the like may vary by asmuch as ±10% from the stated amount.

The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow.That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as isconsistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in theclaims when interpreted in light of this specification and theprosecution history that follows and to encompass all structural andfunctional equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intendedto embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirement ofSections 101, 102, or 103 of the Patent Act, nor should they beinterpreted in such a way. Any unintended embracement of such subjectmatter is hereby disclaimed.

Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated orillustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedicationof any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, orequivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recitedin the claims.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein havethe ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions withrespect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and studyexcept where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes”, “including” or any other variation thereof, are intended tocover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article,or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include onlythose elements but may include other elements not expressly listed orinherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An elementpreceded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, precludethe existence of additional identical elements in the process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the bestmode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modificationsmay be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may beimplemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be appliedin numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein.It is intended by the following claims to claim any and allmodifications and variations that fall within the true scope of thepresent concepts.

1. A lighting system comprising: a wireless communication transmitterfor transmission of a wireless radio frequency (RF) signal; a wirelesscommunication receiver configured to receive the transmission of the RFsignal and generate an indicator data of a signal characteristic of theRF signal; a detector coupled to the wireless communication receiver andconfigured to: determine a data metric based on a rate of change of theindicator data and difference between the indicator data and a baselineindicator data; and process the data metric to detect one of anoccupancy condition or a non-occupancy condition in an area includingthe wireless communication receiver; and a light source located toilluminate at least a portion of the area and controlled in response tothe detected one of the occupancy condition or the non-occupancycondition in the area.
 2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein thebaseline indicator data is an average indicator data calculated over anumber of intervals.
 3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein thebaseline indicator data is calculated at a time prior to a current timeof the generation of the indicator data.
 4. The lighting system of claim2, wherein the baseline indicator data is calculated when there is nooccupant in the area.
 5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein: thedetector compares the indicator data with the baseline indicator databased on at least one parameter, and the at least one parameter is oneof a frequency of the indicator data, magnitude of the indicator data,or combination thereof.
 6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein: thearea includes a plurality of regions, a first region among the pluralityof regions includes the wireless communication transmitter, the wirelesscommunication receiver and the detector; and a second region among theplurality of regions includes the wireless communication transmitter,wherein the second region is different from the first region, and thedetector in the first region is further configured to process the datametric to detect one of the occupancy condition or the non-occupancycondition in the first region among the plurality of regions.
 7. Thelighting system of claim 6, wherein the detector in the first region isfurther configured to process a second data metric to ignore the RFsignal transmission from the wireless communication transmitter in thesecond region, wherein the second data metric is different from the datametric.
 8. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the first regionincludes an occupant and a second region among the plurality of regionincludes another occupant s different from the occupant.
 9. The lightingsystem of claim 8, wherein the wireless communication receiver in thefirst region is configured to: receive the transmission of the RF signalfrom the wireless communication transmitter in the first region andgenerate the indicator data; and receive the transmission of the RFsignal from the wireless communication transmitter in the second regionand generate another indicator data different from the indicator data,10. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the detector is furtherconfigured to: detect the occupancy condition in the first region basedon the indicator data obtained in the first region; and compare theanother indicator data obtained in the second region with an indicatordata threshold.
 11. The lighting system of claim 10, wherein the anotherindicator data obtained in the second region is lower than the indicatordata threshold.
 12. A lighting system comprising: a plurality of systemnodes, each of a plurality of the system nodes including a light sourceand being configured as a lighting device, and at least one other of thesystem nodes: including one of a user interface component and beingconfigured as a lighting controller, a switchable power connector andbeing configured as a plug load controller, or a sensor detector andbeing configured as a lighting related sensor; wherein each respectivesystem node further comprises: a wireless communication interfaceincluding a wireless communication transmitter and a wirelesscommunication receiver configured to enable wireless data communicationamong the system nodes; a processor coupled to at least one of the lightsource, the user interface component, the switchable power connector orthe detector and coupled to communicate via the communication interfaceand a wireless network link; a memory accessible to the processor;programming in the memory which configures the processor to controloperations of the respective system node as one of the lighting device,the lighting controller, the plug load controller or the lightingrelated sensor, wherein: programming in a system node configures thesystem node to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal; programming in atleast one of the system nodes configures the at least one of the systemnodes to receive the transmission of the RF signal through an areailluminated by the lighting device and generate indicator data of asignal characteristic of the received RF signal; and programming in theat least one of the system nodes configures the at least one of thesystem nodes to: determine a data metric based on a rate of change ofthe indicator data and difference between the indicator data and abaseline indicator data; and process the data metric to detect one of anoccupancy condition or a non-occupancy condition in the area includingthe wireless communication receiver.
 13. The lighting system of claim12, wherein: the at least one of the light source is controlled inresponse to the detected one of the occupancy condition or thenon-occupancy condition in the area.
 14. The lighting system of claim12, wherein: the programming in the at least one of the system nodesfurther configures the at least one of the system nodes to: compare theindicator data with the baseline indicator data based on at least oneparameter, and the at least one parameter is one of a frequency of theindicator data, magnitude of the indicator data, or combination thereof.15. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein: the area includes aplurality of regions, a first region among the plurality of regionsincludes the at least one of the system nodes including the wirelesscommunication transmitter, the wireless communication receiver and theprocessor; and a second region among the plurality of regions includesthe system node different from the at least one of system nodes suchthat the system node includes the wireless communication transmitter,wherein the second region is different from the first region and theprogramming in the at least one of the system nodes in the first regionis further configured to process the data metric to detect one of theoccupancy condition or the non-occupancy condition in the first regionamong the plurality of regions.
 16. The lighting system of claim 15,wherein the programming in the at least one of the system nodes in thefirst region is further configured to process a second data metric toignore the RF signal transmission from the wireless communicationtransmitter in the second region, wherein the second data metric isdifferent from the data metric.
 17. The lighting system of claim 15,wherein the first region includes an occupant and a second region amongthe plurality of regions includes another occupant such that the anotheroccupant is different from the occupant and the second region isdifferent from the first region.
 18. The lighting system of claim 17,wherein the wireless communication receiver in the at least one of thesystem nodes in the first region is configured to: receive thetransmission of the RF signal from the wireless communicationtransmitter in the first region and generate the indicator data; andreceive the transmission of the RF signal from the wirelesscommunication transmitter in the second region and generate anotherindicator data different from the indicator data.
 19. The lightingsystem of claim 18, wherein the programming in the at least one of thesystem nodes is further configured to: detect the occupancy condition inthe first region based on the indicator data; and compare the indicatordata obtained in the second region with an indicator data threshold. 20.The lighting system of claim 19, wherein the indicator data in thesecond region is lower than the indicator data threshold.
 21. A methodcomprising: obtaining, in a lighting system, indicator data of a radiofrequency (RF) signal received via a wireless communication receiver;determining a data metric based on a rate of change of the indicatordata and difference between the indicator data and a baseline indicatordata; processing the data metric to detect one of an occupancy conditionor a non-occupancy condition in an area including the receiver; andcontrolling a light source in the lighting system in response to thedetected one of the occupancy condition or the non-occupancy conditionin the area.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: comparingthe indicator data with the baseline indicator data based on at leastone parameter, wherein the at least one parameter is one of a frequencyof the indicator data, magnitude of the indicator data, or combinationthereof.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the area includes aplurality of regions.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:processing the data metric to detect one of the occupancy condition orthe non-occupancy condition in the first region.
 25. The method of claim24, further comprising: processing a second data metric to ignore atransmission of the RF signal transmitted by a wireless communicationtransmitter in a second region among the plurality of regions, whereinthe second region is different from the first region.
 26. The method ofclaim 23, wherein a first region among the plurality of regions includesan occupant and a second region among the plurality of regions includesanother occupant such that the another occupant is different from theoccupant and the second region is different from the first region. 27.The method of claim 23, wherein a first region among the plurality ofregions comprises the wireless communication receiver and the indicatordata is obtained in the first region.
 28. The method of claim 27,further comprising generating another indicator data based on the RFsignal transmitted by the wireless transmitter in a second region amongthe plurality of regions, wherein the another indicator data isdifferent from the indicator data and the second region is differentfrom the first region.
 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:detecting the occupancy condition in the first region based on theindicator data; and comparing the another indicator data obtained in thesecond region with an indicator data threshold.
 30. The method of claim29, wherein the another indicator data in the second region is lowerthan the indicator data threshold.